Miss Universe Canada 2012 Carla Bradstock

Carla Bradstock | Miss Universe Canada 2012

Age: 26

Height: 5'10"

Hometown: Richmond

BIO: Carla Bradstock was raised primarily in Richmond, BC and is the second oldest of four children. She is very close to her family and attributes a great deal of her success to the support and confidence instilled in her by her family members.

Carla graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelors in Philosophy and is currently completing an Event Marketing Certificate at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

At an early age the importance of a balanced and active lifestyle was promoted by her parents and so, academics and athletics became focal points for her life path. Leading up to University, Carla was a top recruited volleyball player and had many options for where to pursue her education.

During her years at UBC she received several awards, some of the most notable being the Canada West Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player at Nationals where, as captain, she led her team to a gold medal.

After University Carla played volleyball professionally in Sweden, Austria and Azerbaijan, and was named to represent Canada internationally on the National Volleyball Team. Living and playing abroad allowed Carla to learn about different cultures and cultivated a passion for travel.

Carla also believes strongly in giving back to the community. Carla currently volunteers in several different sports environments to promote healthy living, confidence, and personal development. In the future, Carla plans on owning her own sports marketing company so that she can continue to give back to organizations that have positively influenced her and helped to shape the person she is today.

Languages spoken fluently (please include your native language if English is not your native language).

I speak English fluently and I also know some French and Brazilian Portuguese.

What are your interests and what do you enjoy doing the most?

I really enjoy going on adventures and have developed an insatiable desire to visit new places and immerse myself in different cultures. I have been fortunate enough to travel to twenty-six countries in the last five years. Learning about the diversity that exists is very important not only to see the way other people live, but also helps us to appreciate how blessed we are to live in Canada. Other interests of mine include playing the guitar, staying active both indoors and outdoors, and hosting small dinner parties for family and friends.

List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc.)

I have had special training in First Aid, Nutrition and Cooking, and Food Safety. I am also in the process of obtaining my National Coaching Certification from Volleyball BC. In addition, I took a course on leadership, on personal resource management, and on relationship development.

In what sports, if any, have you participated?

I have participated in volleyball, basketball, softball, soccer, track and field, swimming, gymnastics, waterskiing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, skiing, badminton, and golf.

Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life. Why?

One person who has had a great amount of influence on my life is one of my volleyball coaches, George Light. He helped to teach me the importance of playing to one’s strengths and acting with integrity. Although I learned a great deal from him about volleyball both technically and tactically, I also learned about leadership and how to achieve excellence in a team environment.

What is your proudest personal accomplishment (other than participating in this pageant)?

One of my proudest personal accomplishments was achieved in my graduating year at the University of British Columbia as a senior on the Varsity Volleyball team. As a captain I was able to lead my team to a National title which broke a thirty year drought and I was honoured to received the MVP of the tournament. Another personal accomplishment that I am proud of was being selected to Canada’s National Volleyball team. My final tournament with Team Canada at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico marked the end of three seasons with the program and left me with a lifetime of memories. I am proud of these accomplishments not only for the success that I have experienced through competition, but also for the opportunities that they have created to allow me to continue to grow as a person.

What is the most interesting or unique thing that has ever happened to you and/or what is the most interesting thing about you?

The most unique thing that has ever happened to me is being one of the sixty-five finalists for Miss Universe Canada 2012. After an extensive career in volleyball, I would never have imagined that an opportunity such as this one would present itself to me. The transition is one that I am eager to pursue and will allow me to expand my comfort zone and experience something new.

What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?

My career ambition is to create my own sports marketing company which specializes in large-scale fundraising events and recruiting major companies to sponsor different sports organizations. I am well on my way to accomplish this goal since I have several contacts in the sports world and I am nearing completion of an Event Marketing Certificate from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. However, I think that the biggest factor which will contribute to my success in achieving this goal is how much passion I have surrounding giving back to a community that has enriched my life and contributed to my development. I believe that with passion and dedication to hard-work, success is sure to follow.

What would be your “dream job” in life?

My dream job in life is exactly what my career ambition is, since there is no better time to follow your dreams than in the reality that you live in.

Are you currently a student?

Yes, part-time.

If yes, where? British Columbia Institute of Technology

Area of study: Event Marketing. I also graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Philosophy.

Are you currently employed?

Yes, part-time.

If yes, what is your occupation?

Athlete and Volleyball Instructor

Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.

I was raised primarily in Richmond, British Columbia and I am the second oldest of four children. My parents really promoted living active lifestyles and so we were all heavily involved with sports and other activities. My parents instilled in us the importance of also developing our mind, and from this I believe a passion for knowledge was ingrained inside of me. I am happy to say that my family is tremendously supportive of every endeavor I have undertaken and in adulthood they are not only family, they are also close friends.

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.

The most unusual job I have had in my life was as a professional volleyball player in Azerbaijan. In my third season of playing professionally overseas, I lived in Baku and it was an experience like no other. After playing the previous two seasons in Sweden and Austria, Azerbaijan offered a completely different experience; it is a country influenced by both Russian and Iranian culture, and was unlike any place I had played volleyball in or visited before.

List any volunteering you have done.

At an early age I became familiar with the idea of giving back and so volunteering has been something that I take pride in participating in. I have helped to distribute goods and food to the homeless and assisted with recreation programs for residents in an intermediate care lodge for the elderly. My most recent volunteering focuses on being an ambassador to today’s youth about the importance of education and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

What is your most unusual talent?

My most unusual talent is that I can speak in with a variety of different accents. I first discovered I could mimic accents in high school and I have been adding new ones to my repertoire ever since. To this day, I will hear an interesting accent and try to decipher where they are from and then try to speak with their accent.

Where is the most interesting place you have been?

One of the most interesting places I have been to is Machu Picchu in Peru. While on the National Volleyball Team we went on tour with Peru’s National Volleyball Team and did a partial hike to see the ancient Inca architecture. The view was absolutely breathtaking and there was a sense of awe as we stood in the ruins and took in the experience.

What do you hope to be doing in ten years?

In ten years I will be making a substantial impact on the sports community with my sports marketing company by generating revenue for athletic organizations so they may provide more opportunities for athletes. In doing so, I hope to positively influence many children and youth’s lives so that they may have the potential to achieve greatness without being limited by a financially constrained organization. I also plan on being an excellent wife and mother in an incredibly loving and supportive family, which I believe will be my most rewarding achievement.

Is there anything you would like to add that we haven’t asked?

In life we are often given the chance to act, and I believe that once a person has made that choice that they should commit themselves wholeheartedly. I feel so blessed to have had the chance to seize this opportunity and I hope that I can make an impact in any way possible through Miss Universe Canada to inspire others to act to make positive changes around them.